Gary Carnivele

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Sonoma County Pride 2014 Fills An Entire Weekend Where Everyone Is ‘Free To Be’

 

Guerneville rolls out the rainbow carpet for the LGBTQI community the weekend of May 30 – June 1, 2014. ‘Official’ events include Sunday’s Pride Parade and Celebration on the Plaza. ‘Unofficial’ events fill the rest of the weekend with something for everyone. Highlights include Pandora Boxx performing at Buck’s River Mill Dinner Theater, welcoming receptions at local merchants & restaurants, a ‘Disco Deliverance Dance’ at the R3 Hotel, pool parties (for both families and the over 21 set) and an opportunity to participate in a Commitment Ceremony on Sunday after the Parade.

Honored Grand Marshalls are openly-gay Mayor Robert Jacob of Sebastopol, Cloverdale Mayor Carol Russell and Guerneville’s unofficial ‘mayor’, Rodger Jenson and were chosen for their commitment to public service and support of our community.

Events on Friday welcome visitors and locals to unwind at local merchants and restaurants. Many of the art galleries will be open late and Blue Door Art Gallery is offering an opportunity to be creative and make an art project during their ‘Fun Creative Art Projects for All’ event which will run through the weekend.

Saturday afternoon’s the perfect time to party at the R3 Hotel’s ‘High Noon Pool Party & BBQ’ as DJ’s John Parker and L-ue spin poolside. Kick off your night at one of the many excellent local restaurants and head to see the fabulously infamous Pandora Boxx at Bucks River Mill Dinner Theater. Ms. Boxx is the internationally famous participant in Rue Paul’s Drag Race and will be with Tora Hymen & the Backwoods Barbies. Tickets are available by calling 707-869-3600. Drag not your style? Dance the night away at the ‘Disco Deliverance Dance’ hosted by Parade Grand Marshall, Rodger Jenson at the R3 Hotel with DJ Torch.

Pride Sunday’s the big event with the ‘Celebration on the Plaza’ opening at 9am with booths and fun for all. Plan to arrive early to get the best seats for the Parade. The Parade starts at 11am and as always the floats, contingents and celebrants will be a joyful and creative expression of love and diversity. There is still time to put a Parade contingent together as applications are still being accepted.

Post-Parade, head to the Plaza where the celebration continues. Sonoma Nesting Company will host the Pride in Wine Country Terrace, a fundraiser for the Prostate Awareness Foundation, next to the Plaza from noon until 3pm.

Participate in a Commitment Ceremony at 2pm or bring your marriage license and get MARRIED at Pride! Interfaith will have clergy available to perform both marriage and commitment ceremonies and wedding cake cupcakes will be provided. The Commitment ceremony will take place at 2pm at Bucks River Mill Dinner Theater at 4th and Mill Streets.

Families and friends can cool off at the Rio Nido Roadhouse’s kid-friendly pool. Mention “Pride” for discounts on Sunday from noon to 4pm on both pool entry fees and in their great restaurant.

Closing the day’s celebration will be a Pride Interfaith Service at 7pm at Thanksgiving Lutheran Church in Santa Rosa.

Anyone wishing to support Pride can do so by becoming a sponsor. All money raised go towards expenses for the Parade and Plaza Celebration. Donations are not tax deductible.

Information, Donation/Sponsor information, Parade Entry forms and Vendor Booth applications are available online at www.SonomaCountyPride.org

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Pride Events

Friday:

  • Merchant Welcoming Receptions from 4 – 8pm

o      Main Street Merchants will stay open late and many will have something special to offer for Pride.

o      Fun Creative Art Projects for All at the Blue Door Art Gallery located at 16359 Main Street http://bluedoorartgallery.com

  • Pride Karaoke from 8pm to midnight

o      At the R3 Hotel with Country Dan http://www.ther3hotel.com/KARAOKE-NIGHT.php

 

Pride Saturday:

  • ‘High Noon Pool Party & BBQ’

o      Noon – 5pm at the R3 Hotel. Crossfade Productions Presents Music by DJ John Parker and DJ L-ue Spinning Poolside witth Surprise Entertainment http://www.ther3hotel.com/PRIDE-SATURDAY-2014.php

  • ‘Fun Creative Art Projects for All’

o      at the Blue Door Art Gallery http://bluedoorartgallery.com

  • ‘Disco Deliverance Dance’

o      from 6 -11pm at the R3 Hotel. A retro kick back party on the Back Deck under the Big Top. Music provided by Russian River icon DJ Torch. http://www.ther3hotel.com/PRIDE-SATURDAY-2014.php

  • Pandora Boxx

o      at Bucks River Mill Dinner Theater for information: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bucks-River-Mill-Dinner-Theater/307552429393938 or www.PandoraBoxx.com

 

Pride Sunday:

  • 9am – 3pm PrideVillage on the Guerneville Plaza Official Pride Event

o      Participating Organizations with booths (booth space still available):

  • Vision Within / Sarah & Christing Wrathall 415-939-0219 Offering beaded crystal suncatchers with prisms, geodes, crystals, jewelry. 90% handmade work.
  • MarJane Enterprises / Jane Wilder 707-838-7238 or Mardie Donaldson 707-332-7476 Offering pride oriented flags, buttons, stickers, magnets, jewelry, suspenders, ties, belts, keychains, lapel pins, hats, wallets, keychains, boas, pet collars & leashes.
  • Riverbed Yoga / Joan McClain 347-647-1568 Offering t-shirts, jewelry, information on yoga classes in the area.
  • Rio Crest Winery is donating their spot to a non-profit (TBD)
  • Sonoma County Stonewall Democrats / Kevin Jones 201-218-1705 will be offering brochures and handouts pins and possibly books authored by one of their members.
  • Russian River Alliance / Chuck Ramsey 707-239-1639 Will be providing information on their organization and its goals. Also how to become involved. www.RussianRiverAlliance.org
  • 1st Friday Artwalk Artwork will be on display as well as information on the monthly town-wide gallery open houses.
  • 11am Pride Parade on Main Street, Guerneville Official Pride Event

o      Participating organizations Include (not all entries received yet):

  • Community 1st Credit Union
    • Beth Rudometkin (Guerneville contact) 10 participants (18 foot float) and music.
  • Sebastopol Mayor Jacob on the Peace in Medicine Float.
    • (28 feet) with 25 participants
  • Riverbed Yoga /
    • 10 person Marching Unit
  • Rio Crest Winery
    • Is donating their space to a non-profit (TBD)
  • FastSigns of Santa Rosa
    • (Need details on their parade entry)
  • Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa
    • will have a 30 person Marching Unit
  • Knox Church/PFLAG
    • Will have a 10 person Marching Unit

 

Other Events on Sunday:

  • Pride Pool Party

o      (at the R3 Hotel)

  • ‘Fun Creative Art Projects for All’

o      at the Blue Door Art Gallery http://bluedoorartgallery.com

  • Noon – 4pm: Family Pool Party

o      (at the Rio Nido Roadhouse) Mention PRIDE for discounts at the Pool and Roadhouse for families. Swimming Pool – bring your suit! http://rionidoroadhouse.com/

  • Noon – 3pm Pride in Wine Country Terrace

o      (at Sonoma Nesting Company)

  • 2pm: Commitment Ceremony

o      (at Bucks River Mill Dinner Theater)

o      Bring your Marriage License as there will be members of the clergy attending (and get MARRIED!). Wedding Cake Cupcakes will be provided.

  • 7pm Interfaith Service

o      at Thanksgiving Lutheran Church. Located at 1225 Fulton Road in Santa Rosa.

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6th Street Playhouse Hosts Tony Awards Event

6th Street Playhouse is hosting a red carpet party for the 68th Annual Tony Awards, Sunday, June 8th beginning at 6:30pm. The event includes a special viewing of the awards ceremony, complimentary red carpet photos for guests, Broadway-themed cocktails, champagne and a dessert buffet. Additionally, there will be an exciting silent auction featuring an array of valuable experiences and items.

Each General Admission ticket includes a cocktail and dessert buffet, donated by Michelle Marie’s Patisserie. VIP seating is available which includes a table for 4, champagne and other treats. Other events include trivia contests and prizes during commercial breaks and an opportunity to cast a ballot for the winners and win some great Broadway swag. Craig A. Miller will emcee the evening.
68th Annual Tony Awards

6th Street Playhouse
Sunday, June 8th
Doors open at 6:30pm, Tony Awards Ceremony begins 8:00pm
Tickets: $40 General Admission through May 31
$50-$300 after May 31
www.6thstreetplayhouse.com or (707) 523-4185

About The 6th Street Playhouse:
In 2004, a new partnership reunited the Santa Rosa Players and Actors Theatre under one board of directors. Together they renovated the 119-year-old Del Monte cannery into the 6th
Street Playhouse, which houses a 185-seat main stage (The G. K. Hardt ) and a 99-seat black box (The Studio ).

6th Street Playhouse is a performing arts organization that produces live theatre and provides education programs of the highest quality that engage, delight, and inspire the diverse communities of the North Bay region. 6th Street Playhouse is the central hub of the Sonoma County arts scene. It is known throughout the region for its high level of artistry, professionalism, educational opportunities and the bravery of its approach to works both Classic and New.

In its 2013-2014 Season, under the direction of Artistic Director, Craig A. Miller, the 6th Street Playhouse was named “Best Theatre Troupe” by the North Bay Bohemian for the third consecutive year, and was the winner of six San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critic Circle Awards. 6th Street Playhouse was also the recipient of 13 Stage One Theatre Awards (SOTA), including Best New Play and Best Director. The 6th Street Playhouse is located at 52 West 6th Street, Santa Rosa, California.

Equality California Announces Final Endorsements for 2014 June Primary

Today, Equality California is proud to announce its endorsement of incumbents Gov. Jerry Brown for governor, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom for lieutenant governor, Attorney General Kamala Harris for attorney general, Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones for insurance commissioner and Superintendent Tom Torlakson for superintendent of public instruction. In addition, EQCA has endorsed former Speaker of the Assembly Bob Hertzberg for Senate District 18. They join a group of over 50 other candidates already endorsed by Equality California in the 2014 election cycle.

In his current term, Brown has governed California since 2011 and he has been a tremendously effective advocate for full equality throughout his long career. In 2012 he signed into law SB 1172, banning psychological abuse of minors in the guise of “conversion therapy,” and last year he signed the School Success and Opportunity Act, which gives all students, including transgender students, equal access to programs and facilities. Prior to serving as governor, Brown served as attorney general and declined to defend Proposition 8 both as attorney general and later as governor. Brown was recently honored with the Leadership Award at EQCA’s 2014 Sacramento Equality Awards.

“We are tremendously pleased to endorse Governor Brown for a fourth term as governor,” said John O’Connor, EQCA executive director. “His leadership has been critical to much of the progress we have made toward full equality in recent years, and we look forward to achieving even more with another four years of Governor Brown’s leadership.”

Newsom garnered national renown while mayor of San Francisco for his bold decision to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples in 2004. Since then, he has has used his leadership position to support policies that move equality forward for LGBT Californians, including universal health care, and citizen engagement, like his CaliforniaReportCard.org, which invites residents to grade California’s implementation of marriage for same-sex couples. Newsom was honored at the 2014 Sacramento Equality Awards with the Vanguard Award.

“Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has built on his promise as an exceptional ally to LGBT Californians,” said O’Connor. “He has continually pushed the frontier of equality forward, and we are proud to endorse him for a second term as lieutenant governor.”

Harris has served as Attorney General since 2011, and has been a staunch advocate for full equality, including refusing to defend Prop. 8. While district attorney for San Francisco, she created a hate crimes unit, and convened a national conference to rebut the “gay-“ and “transgender panic” defense. This year, she is an official co-sponsor of Assemblymember Susan Bonilla’s AB 2501, which would curb the use of “gay-“ and “transgender panic” defenses in California. Last year, she was honored with the Vanguard in Leadership Award at the 2013 Los Angeles Equality Awards.

“Kamala Harris has had so many firsts — she’s the first woman, African American and Indian American to hold the office of Attorney General — and now it’s time for her to have a second term,” said O’Connor. “We couldn’t be prouder to endorse Kamala Harris for attorney general.”

Jones has served as Insurance Commissioner since 2010, and previously served as assemblymember for the 9th District. In 2011, prior to the restoration of the freedom to marry, Jones reformed insurance regulations so that low-income lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people were no longer excluded from discounts based on spousal language. He also championed groundbreaking regulations to enforce laws requiring gender nondiscrimination in insurance coverage, ensuring that transgender Californians are not denied access to health care simply because of their gender identity.

“Dave Jones has made compassion and equality a priority for insurance coverage in California,” said O’Connor. “We are proud to endorse him for another term.”

After serving in both the Assembly and the Senate, Torlakson has worked as superintendent for public instruction since 2011, and has overseen the implementation of the FAIR Education Act, which ended the exclusion of LGBT historical figures due to their sexual orientation or gender identity. Torlakson is a strong supporter of effective anti-bullying programs, and is currently implementing the School Success and Opportunity Act.

“As a former legislator, Tom Torlakson proved himself to be a staunch ally with his consistent 100-percent pro-equality voting record,” said O’Connor. “EQCA looks forward to working with our ally on implementing the FAIR Education Act and the School Success and Opportunity Act on behalf of LGBT students, who are our shared priority.”

Hertzberg is currently a partner at the law firm Mayer Brown LLP, and is a respected voice on environmental policy and government reform. From 1996 through 2002, he represented the 40th Assembly District, and served his final two years in the Assembly as Speaker. While there, he helped to secure passage of AB 537, the California Student Safety & Violence Prevention Act of 2000 by then-Assembly Member Sheila Kuehl, which provided crucial anti-harassment protections for LGBT students.

“Bob Hertzberg has been a longtime supporter of full equality for LGBT Californians, and we’re glad that he’s decided to return to public service,” said O’Connor. “We’re proud to endorse him for California Senate.”

The Equality California Political Action Committee endorses viable candidates running for statewide offices and the state legislature who have a proven track record of supporting equal rights and legal protections for LGBT Californians and who are committed to advancing these goals in their capacity as elected officials.

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy organization in California. For more than a decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to a state with some of the most comprehensive human rights protections in the nation. Equality California has partnered with legislators to successfully sponsor 96 pieces of pro-equality legislation. EQCA continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

 

Equality California Applauds CalPERS Divestment from Russian Companies Tied to Anti-LGBT Violence and Neo-Nazi Website

Equality California applauds CalPERS, the country’s largest public pension fund, for divesting from the Russian companies MegaFon and Mail.ru due to the companies’ links to the neo-Nazi “Occupy Pedophilia” vigilante group, which has posted videos of torture and assault of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Russians on a company-owned social media network.

“Californians raised their voices and CalPERS listened. We will not have our money supporting hate crimes against our LGBT brothers and sisters in Russia, and we are very glad to have made an impact on a global scale,” said John O’Connor, Equality California executive director. “This is a success that we can all be very proud of.”

In March, EQCA launched a petition in conjunction with the National Center for Lesbian Rights, urging the specific divestment from MegaFon and Mail.ru. Last year, EQCA co-sponsored Sen. Mark Leno’s resolution, SR 18, urging CalPERS to divest from Russian companies to oppose the anti-LGBT ‘propaganda’ law.

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy organization in California. For more than a decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to a state with some of the most comprehensive human rights protections in the nation. Equality California has partnered with legislators to successfully sponsor 96 pieces of pro-equality legislation. EQCA continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

 

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U.S. Health Officials Encourage Use Of HIV Pill For At-Risk Individuals

U.S. health officials on Wednesday issued new recommendations urging healthcare workers to consider offering an HIV prevention pill to healthy individuals who are at substantial risk for HIV infection.

The guidelines, issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Public Health Service, involve the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP, a strategy in which at-risk individuals take a daily dose of an antiretroviral drug to reduce their risk of HIV infection.

The strategy builds on a landmark 2010 study that found Gilead Sciences Inc’s Truvada – a pill already widely used to treat the human immunodeficiency virus – was more than 90 percent effective at preventing HIV infections among test subjects who took the drug as prescribed.

According to the new guidelines, healthcare providers should consider PrEP for anyone who meets specific risk criteria, such as being in a relationship with an HIV-infected partner or having sex without condoms with partners known to be at risk for HIV, such as injecting drug users.

The guidelines offer the first comprehensive guidance from the CDC, replacing interim guidance that emerged after studies showed PrEP to be effective in different patient populations.

The CDC now estimates as many as 275,000 uninfected gay men and 140,000 heterosexual couples, in which one partner is HIV-infected, could benefit from PrEP.

Some 1.2 million people in the United States live with HIV, and new infections are estimated at 50,000 each year.

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris Signs on as Co-sponsor for Bill to Curb “Panic Defense”

Attorney General Kamala D. Harris has become an official co-sponsor for AB 2501, a bill authored by Assemblymember Susan Bonilla and designed to curb the so-called “panic defense” by making it clear that a defendant’s discovery of a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity is not sufficient provocation to reduce a charge of murder to manslaughter. Equality California is a sponsor of the bill.

“Getting Attorney General Kamala Harris to co-sponsor AB 2501 is an exciting sign that California is serious about curbing these bogus ‘panic’ defenses,” said John O’Connor, Equality California executive director. ”A victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity should never be used to excuse a crime against them, and we thank Assemblymember Bonilla and Attorney General Harris for their leadership on this issue.”

“As the state’s chief law enforcement officer and a career prosecutor, I’ve long viewed the panic defense as an injustice not only to our LGBT community, but to all Californians who rightly expect all victims to be treated equally under the law,” Attorney General Harris said. “This bill ensures that violent crimes cannot be excused by a defendant’s prejudice. I commend Assemblymember Bonilla for standing up on this serious issue.”

“With the strong support of Attorney General Kamala Harris to ban panic defenses in court, we are making it very clear that discrimination against people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender has no place in our justice system,” said Assemblymember Bonilla.

Currently, “heat of passion” and “sudden quarrel” defenses must be legally supported with evidence of provocation, and that provocation may include discovery of a victim’s sexual orientation or gender identity. Similar legislation was attempted in 2005 in the California Legislature but was substantially amended to only require the court to instruct the jury that their verdict should not be influenced by bias against a victim.

There have been several high-profile cases over the past ten years where panic defenses were used, including the murders of LGBT teens Gwen Araujo in Newark, California and Larry King in Oxnard, California.

Equality California (EQCA) is the largest statewide lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender advocacy organization in California. For more than a decade, Equality California has strategically moved California from a state with extremely limited legal protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people to a state with some of the most comprehensive human rights protections in the nation. Equality California has partnered with legislators to successfully sponsor 96 pieces of pro-equality legislation. EQCA continues to advance equality through legislative advocacy, electoral work, public education and community empowerment. www.eqca.org

 

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Couples To Challenge Alaska Gay Marriage Ban As Unconstitutional

Five gay couples filed a lawsuit Monday challenging Alaska’s ban on same-sex marriage as unconstitutional.

The Alaska lawsuit, filed in federal court in Anchorage, lists as plaintiffs four couples who were married outside Alaska and one unmarried couple. It alleges that Alaska’s ban on same-sex marriage violates their rights to due process and equal protection under the U.S. Constitution.

The lawsuit seeks to bar enforcement of Alaska’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage. It also calls for barring enforcement of any state laws that refuse to recognize gay marriages legally performed in other states or countries or that prevent unmarried gay couples from marrying.

Alaska voters in 1998 approved a state constitutional amendment defining marriage as being between one man and one woman. But in the past year, the U.S. Supreme Court has struck down a provision of the federal Defense of Marriage Act that prevented legally married same-sex couples from receiving a range of federal benefits. Federal courts also have struck down state constitutional bans in a number of states, though appeals were pending in a number of cases. States such as Illinois and Hawaii legalized same-sex marriage.

An attorney for the couples, Caitlin Shortell, said lawsuits have been filed in almost every state with bans on same-sex marriage. A lawsuit in Alaska was seen by those involved as “necessary and important,” Shortell said.

Another attorney, Heather Gardner, said in a statement that under current state law, “a couple who marries in Seattle and returns home to Alaska are married in the eyes of the law when their plane lifts off from SeaTac (airport) but are legal strangers when the flight touches down in Alaska. No Alaskan is a second-class citizen.”

The plaintiffs are Matthew Hamby and Christopher Shelden; Christina LaBorde and Susan Tow; Sean Egan and David Robinson; Tracey Wiese and Katrina Cortez; and Courtney Lamb and Stephanie Pearson. Lamb and Pearson are unmarried.
Hamby, in a statement, said he and his husband — who, according to the lawsuit were married in Canada in 2008 and renewed their vows in Utah last year — are taking a stand “because marriage should be available to all loving couples. It’s important to us that our family is recognized by the State of Alaska and that we have the same rights and privileges as others.”

Defendants include Gov. Sean Parnell and Attorney General Michael Geraghty, who earlier this year told The Associated Press he would continue to defend the state’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage, even as federal courts around the country strike down similar bans.

The Alaska lawsuit was filed three days after a county circuit judge in Arkansas late Friday tossed out the 2004 constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage, along with a 1997 state law. That state’s attorney general filed paperwork Monday to at least temporarily preserve the ban.

Geraghty said he would not make his decisions based on federal district court decisions that still must be reviewed by appellate courts and perhaps the U.S. Supreme Court, which he expects will ultimately weigh in on the issue.

“Would everybody vote the same way today? Who knows? But it’s on the books,” Geraghty told the AP in February. He added: “Eventually, as I said, one day there will be guidance. I’m sure one day there will be a decision one way or the other. And when that happens, obviously we will comply with the decision.”

A Parnell spokeswoman said by email late Friday afternoon that the governor’s office had not been served with the lawsuit and the Department of Law would need time to review any it.

A proposal to strike the same-sex marriage ban from Alaska’s constitution, introduced by Senate Minority Leader Hollis French, D-Anchorage, during the last legislative session, went nowhere. Republicans control both the Alaska House and Senate.

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Food for Thought’s West Sonoma County Spring Home and Garden Tour Happens June 8

Food For Thought’s 19th annual Western Sonoma County Home & Garden Tour will feature eight wonderfully diverse locations on Sunday June 8th, from 10am to 5pm. During the tour, homeowners will open their private homes and gardens to a limited number of ticket holders.

 This year’s distinctive locations embody the range of home and gardening lifestyles in West Sonoma County’s unique ecosystem. The tour will showcase spectacular homes and gardens, which include features such as old growth redwood trees, edible landscaping, a labyrinth and beautiful garden art. There will also be an opportunity to tour the food bank and garden at Food For Thought, the tour’s beneficiary, as well as the Food For Thought Antique Shop in Sebastopol.

 

Food For Thought – Sonoma County AIDS Food Bank provides comprehensive nutrition and other support services to people affected by HIV/AIDS. Now in its 25th year, the Forestville-based food bank serves over 700 men, women and children with HIV/AIDS throughout the County. Proceeds from the tour will benefit Food For Thought’s work.


Tickets for the tour are $45 and include a booklet with descriptions of the homes and gardens, and a map for the self-guided tour. Tickets may be ordered online at www.fftfoodbank.org, by phone at (707) 887-1647, or by visiting the Food For Thought office in downtown Forestville. Delicious gourmet box lunches from Cottonwood Catering for $12.50 can be pre-ordered ahead and will be available for pick-up on the day of the event at Food For Thought in Forestville.

For more information on this year’s Home & Garden Tour, please visit www.fftfoodbank.org.

 

Food For Thought was awarded a Charity Navigator rating of four stars recently, the highest rating possible. Also, readers of the North Bay Bohemian, for the second year in a row, selected Food For Thought as Best Nonprofit in Sonoma County (honorable mention), and chose Food For Thought’s Calabash – a Celebration of Gourds, Art & the Garden as the best fundraising event.

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MILESTONE: US Dept. of Education. Announces Title IX Protects Transgender Students

NCTE welcomes guidance issued today by the U.S. Department of Education which makes clear that the federal Title IX law prohibits discrimination against transgender students. The guidance, from the Department’s Office for Civil Rights (OCR), states: “Title IX’s sex discrimination prohibition extends to claims of discrimination based on gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity and OCR accepts such complaints for investigation.”

 

“This announcement is a breakthrough for transgender students, who too often face hostility at school and refusal by school officials to accept them for who they truly are,” said NCTE Policy Director Harper Jean Tobin. “It is now clearer than ever that schools nationwide are responsible for ensuring that transgender students are respected and safe, and students can seek protection from the Department of Education and the courts if schools fail to do so.”

 

Recent research indicates that 80% of transgender students feel unsafe at school because of who they are [GLSEN 2012]. While the guidance does not address specific forms of discrimination against transgender students, recent actions by the Departments of Justice and Education make clear that schools must provide equal access to all school facilities and programs consistent with a student’s gender identity. A 2013 federal settlement with the Arcadia, California school district, on behalf of a transgender boy excluded from school restrooms and field trip accommodations, requires school officials to treat the student as male for all purposes. Earlier this month, the Department of Justice issued guidance stating the nondiscrimination based on gender identity requires domestic violence shelters and other grantees under the Violence Against Women ACT (VAWA) to provide equal access consistent with a person’s gender identity.

 

This historic statement on gender identity is embedded in a larger guidance document on the responsibilities of schools to prevent and respond to sexual violence against any student—part of a package of guidance and resources announced by the Obama Administration today to address this widespread problem. Also being launched is a new website, NotAlone.gov, collecting resources for students and schools and reporting settlements with schools related to sexual violence on campus. NCTE applauds the White House Task Force to Protect Students from Sexual Assault and the federal agencies involved in this effort.

 

“Sexual violence in schools is shockingly common in the U.S. and needs to stop,” said NCTE Executive Director Mara Keisling. “That the Federal Government is addressing sexual violence is so important. And it is also important, and honestly a relief, that the Department of Education is clarifying Title IX in a way that will make schools safer for transgender students.”

 

While the Department of Education took the opportunity of issuing the sexual violence guidance to also clarify that transgender students are protected under Title IX, this protection is not limited to the context of physical or sexual violence and extends to all forms of discrimination in education. NCTE has long pressed for this guidance along with other LGBT advocates, and now urges the Department of Education to issue further detailed guidance on the rights of transgender students.

 

To ensure compliance with Title IX, NCTE urges schools to use our Model School District Policy on Transgender and Gender Non-Conforming Students, developed by NCTE and our partners at GLSEN, to update their own policies. Students or anyone aware of discrimination based on gender identity can file a complaint with the Department of Education at https://ocrcas.ed.gov/.

 

To learn more or to speak with Mara Keisling or Harper Jean Tobin, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano / vvillano@transequality.org / 202-631-9640.

 

 

 

Pentagon Human Goals Charter “Disappointing” for Absence of Trans People

 

April 28, 2014

 

The Pentagon today released the Human Goals Charter, a document that outlines the guiding principles for the treatment of Department of Defense uniform and civilian workforce that, for the first time, affirms gay and lesbian military service members.

 

In response to the absence of the inclusion of transgender people in the document, National Center for Transgender Equality Executive Director Mara Keisling issued the following statement:

 

 

“While this is a positive step, it’s very disappointing that the Department of Defense (DOD) missed this opportunity to make clear its commitment to equal opportunity for transgender civilian workers. Transgender civilian workers at the Department of Defense are protected under sex discrimination laws because EEOC precedent makes clear that sex discrimination law protect transgender workers in all federal civilian contexts including the Department of Defense. We hope the Department will make this explicit in its civilian EEO policy, and will soon review the outdated rules, and remove the prejudice from those rules, that prevent transgender service members from serving openly and safely.

Another obvious deficiency in federal employment policy that can and should be addressed immediately is the President should sign the Executive Order that will explicitly disallow job discrimination by federal contractors including military contractors.”

 

To speak with Mara Keisling, please contact Vincent Paolo Villano / vvillano@transequality.org / 202-631-9640.

 

 

LGBT Advocates Commend New VAWA Non-Discrimination Guidance, Urge Other Federal Agencies to Follow Lead

 

April 24, 2014

 

As advocates for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people, we applaud the Department of Justice for issuing strong implementing guidelines for the historic non-discrimination provisions in the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA), ensuring that LGBT survivors of violence receive equal services and treatment free from unlawful discrimination. The recently released Frequently Asked Questions about the new provisions are precedent-setting and will be a guide for other federal agencies on how to implement LGBT non-discrimination provisions. These provisions mark the first ever explicit protections from discrimination for LGBT people under federal law.

 

This guidance is a significant step forward because it makes clear that federal tax dollars under VAWA can’t be used to discriminate against LGBT people. If a grantee receives any funding under VAWA, all activities of that entity are covered by the non-discrimination mandate (including employment), as well as activities that aren’t related to or funded by the Department of Justice. This is hugely important because VAWA funding is disbursed to many agencies and programs around the country, including many rape crisis centers, domestic violence shelters, legal services, housing programs, education and prevention campaigns, courts, prosecutors, police and sheriff’s departments, as well as state agencies that administer VAWA funds.

 

As part of this guidance, the Office of Violence Against Women in the Department of Justice (OVW) announced a framework for analyzing the limited conditions for services that are segregated or specific to gender and prohibited justifications based on overbroad assumptions or past practice. In the limited case where gender-segregated services are proven to be essential, meaningful comparable services must be provided. The policy is also historic because it is the first time a federal agency has clearly stated that non-discrimination on the basis of gender identity means that all transgender people are to be housed and provided with other services according to their self-identified gender. The guidance makes clear that transgender people can’t be turned away or treated differently just because another client complains about being around a transgender person, and that staff cannot ask invasive personal questions to get a transgender person to “prove” their gender.

 

We urge the Department of Justice to formalize this historic guidance in binding regulations, as is standard practice with other major civil rights laws. We look forward to other federal agencies following the lead of the Department of Justice and applying similar interpretations of other laws and regulations prohibiting discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, and gender identity.

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The 2014 Tony Award Nominations Have Arrived

Select nominations for the 2014 American Theatre Wing’s Tony Awards, announced Tuesday.

Best Play: “Act One,” ”All The Way,” ”Casa Valentina,” ”Mothers and Sons.” ”Outside Mullingar”

Best Musical: “After Midnight,” ”Aladdin,” ”Beautiful-The Carole King Musical,” ”A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder”

Best Book of a Musical: “Aladdin,” ”Beautiful-The Carole King Musical,” ”Bullets Over Broadway A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder”

Best Original Score (Music and/or Lyrics) Written for the Theater: “Aladdin, “The Bridges of Madison County,” ”A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder,” ”If/Then”

Best Revival of a Play: “The Cripple of Inishmaan, “The Glass Menagerie,” ”A Raisin in the Sun,” ”Twelfth Night”

Best Revival of a Musical: “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” ”Les Miserables,” ”Violet”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play: Samuel Barnett, “Twelfth Night,” Bryan Cranston, “All the Way,” Chris O’Dowd, “Of Mice and Men,” Mark Rylance, “Richard III,” Tony Shalhoub, “Act One”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play: Tyne Daly, “Mothers and Sons,” LaTanya Richardson Jackson, “A Raisin in the Sun,” Cherry Jones, “The Glass Menagerie,” Audra McDonald, “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill,” Estelle Parsons, “The Velocity of Autumn”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical: Neil Patrick Harris, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch,” Ramin Karimloo, “Les Miserables,” Andy Karl, “Rocky,” Jefferson Mays, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder,” Bryce Pinkham, “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical: Mary Bridget Davies, “A Night With Janis Joplin,” Sutton Foster, “Violet,” Idina Menzel, “If/Then,” Jessie Mueller, “Beautiful-The Carole King Musical,” Kelli O’Hara, “The Bridges of Madison County”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play: Reed Birney, “Casa Valentina,” Paul Chahidi, “Twelfth Night,” Stephen Fry, “Twelfth Night,” Mark Rylance, “Twelfth Night,” Brian J. Smith, “The Glass Menagerie”

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play: Sarah Greene, “The Cripple of Inishmaan,” Celia Keenan-Bolger, “The Glass Menagerie,” Sophie Okonedo, “A Raisin in the Sun,” Anika Noni Rose, “A Raisin in the Sun,” Mare Winningham, “Casa Valentina”

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical: Danny Burstein, “Cabaret,” Nick Cordero, “Bullets Over Broadway,” Joshua Henry, “Violet”

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